Steering-gear antirattler.



E. I. JEFFRIES, STEERING GEAR ANTIRATTLER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. I914.

Patented July 18, 1910.

Qbtomuva EWING I. JEFFBIES, OF NEW SALEM, PENNSYLVALTIA.

STEERING-GEAR ANTIRATTLER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented, July 18, 1 916,

Applicationfiled September 15, 1914. Serial No. 861,858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ewnvo I. Jnrrnrns, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Salem, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steering- Gear Antirattlers, of which the following is a. specification.

his invention relates to the steering gear or" a motor car such as the present day auto-1 mobile, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and efiective device to cornpensate for wear between the steering arm of one of the knuckles and the yoke which connects the same to the shaft of the steering column, whereby all wear in the joint referred to is taken up as it occurs and the parts prevented from rattling.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illus rated and claimed.

- In the accompanyingdrawings: Figure l is a plan View of the steering arm and yoke, showing the spring of this invention in its applied relation thereto. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same looking toward the extremities of the arms of the spring. Fig.

-3 is a horizontal section through tile jointand spring taken centrally ot the latter.

Fig. 4: is a detail perspective View of the spring detached.

Referring to the o awings fl designates the steering arm or, as it is sometimes termed, the spindle arm which projects from and is secured to one of the steering knackles of the steering gear oi an automobile or similar vehicle. and represents the yoke to which is attached the forward extremity oi the operating rod or bar the rear end of which connects Y 'ith the shatt in the steering column of the machine.

In cmryin out the present invention 1 7 designated. generally at it, ring embodying i e coiled pr 'tions 3 which wooed in o posite diret. l are. the inner extl or ter 'nals being extend- 5 parallel relation to each other and close together at the inner sides of the coils to form one of the spring arms 4,. the extremities of the terminals forming said arm being bent substantially at right angles to the terniinals and inthe same direction or parallel relation so as to hook around one side of th yoke 2 in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.

In addition to the arm 4, the spring comprises another arm 5 which is formed by bending the central portion of the wire in which the spring is formed into U-shape and also deflecting or curving said arm to one side so as to partially embrace the sleeve or eye (5 at the extremity of the arm 1 and through which the connecting pivot pin or bolt 7 passe It will beobserved that the sleeve or eye 6 is centrally enlarged or formed with a central reinforcing ridge 8 and by reason oi the U-shaped bend in the arm 5 of the spring, the latter maintains itself in a central position between the top and bottom branches 9 of the yoke 2. This prevents the spring from working in wearing contact with the branches of the yoke and also serves to sustain the sleeve or eye 6 centrally between the branches 9 when wear takes place between the top and bottom ends of the sleeve 6 and said branches of the yoke.

The sleeve or coupling end 6 has reversely tapered portions against which the side portions of the U-shaped spring arm bear'and the cevice as a whole presses the sleeve 6- snngly against the pivot or bolt 7 at all times thereby compensating for wear between said elements ami'preventing rattling, The coils o forked to stradcle the coupling end of theo occupy a position at one side of the yoke and do imtintcrlere with the relative p1v-- eering arm 1 and the reversely tapered external arm, of a spring embodying reversely wound coils, an arin. formed by the inner terminal,

portions as the coils extending in parallel and touching relation to each other and having their extremities bent in the same direction to engage the inside of the fork of the yoke, the outer terminals of the coils being bent to form a Ushaped arm which is v curved and deflected-laterally to partially embrace and center itself upon and relatwely to the oouphng end. of the steering arm and brace said coupling end against the pivot which connects the yoke and arm.

In testimony whereof I, aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EWING I. JEFFRIES.

Witnesses:

S. O. ll ieColmuon, ERNEST E. COFFMAN. 

